Switch device for ball rolling games



Jan. 12, 1943. F. w. MOXEY ET AL SWITCH DEVICE FOR BALL ROLLING GAMES Filed April 23 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l a IIIOIIC/ZL/Fld Jan. 1-2, 1943. F. w. MOXEY EI'AL 2,303,297

SWITCH DEVICE FOR BALL RQLLING GAMES 7 Filed April 23, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 j qyynozIC/dOit V 7 $0 f/orizey:

Patented Jan. 12, 1943 SWITCH DEVICE FOR BALL ROLLING GAMES Fred W. Moxey and Raymond W. Feldott, Aurora, 111., assignors to American Molded Products 00., Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application April 23, 1941, Serial No. 389,946

9 Claims.

This invention relates to ball rolling game apparatus including a table top inclined slightly to horizontal, and over which balls are rollable. Games of this general class have heretofore been provided with suitable target devices and/or switch devices mounted on the table top in position to be encountered by a ball. Certain of said devices, as heretofore employed, are connected in electrical circuits which are adapted to be closed or opened, when said devices are encountered by a ball for operating other devices or apparatus. Such devices are usually employed for the purpose of providing a game which will create and/or maintain interest and which possesses player appeal.

The present invention is directed to a novel combination target and switch device which provides novel control of a number of separate electrical circuits for actuating a wide variety of auxiliary devices and apparatus.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a novel form of combined target and switch device mounted on the table top in position to be encountered and actuated by a ball rolling thereby for making and breaking one or a plurality of electrical circuits.

Another object is to provide a novel and improved target and switch device in the form of a rotatable turnstile having a plurality of arms adapted to be positioned to be encountered and moved by a ball traveling over the table top, together with a switch structure adapted to be actuated in response to movement of the turnstile for controlling a plurality of separate electrical circuits.

A further object is to provide a novel and improved combination target and switch device for controlling the make and break of a plurality of electrical circuits for operating various apparatus, and wherein said improved device obviates the use of complicated and expensive electromagnetic devices and mechanisms, such as heretofore employed.

Still another object is to provide a novel combination target and switch device which lends itself for use in a multiplicity of novel arrangements for operating electrical circuits controlling various electrical apparatus or devices such as scoring devices, recording apparatus, etc., as well as novel. lighting arrangements of thegame.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1' is a fragmentary plan view of the table top of a ball rolling game apparatus upon which is mounted the combination target and switch device embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional View through the combined target and switch device, taken substantially as indicated at line 2-2 on Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view through the target device taken as indicated at line 3-3 on Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view through a portion of the switch device taken as indicated at line 44 on Figure 2; and

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic illustration of an electrical circuit including our novel combination target and switch device.

The combination target and switch device embodying the present invention includes a target structure l0 of generally triangular form as seen in the drawings. Said target structure is composed of a body I l and a removable cap or head piece l2, said body and head piece preferably being formed of plastic material for purpose of color effect. The cap I2 is preferably translucent to emit light from an electric lamp 14 mounted within the body H, and carried in a socket structure indicated generally at [5, secured to the underside of a table top designated at IS. The target H is fixedly secured to the table top It in any suitable manner and in the present construction, as will hereinafter be described, is fixedly secured by common fastening means associated with a switch device mounted below the table top l6, as hereinafter described.

Mounted within the body ll of the target device is a turnstile l8 disposed in a horizontal plane in substantially parallel spaced apart relation to the top surface of the table top l6. Said turnstile includes a multiplicity of laterally extending radial arms l9 which are adapted to be sequentially rotated through a slot 20 formed in the side wall 2| of the body ll. Said side wall 2| is of substantial length and is substantially upright and straight, in effect serves as a guide wall for a ball rolling over the table top.

Any suitable meansmay be provided for cooperation with the guide wall 2| of the target device, disposed in spaced apart relation thereto, soas to form a relatively narrow passageway 23 through which a ball traveling over the table top may roll. As herein shown, the cooperating guide surface is a surface corresponding to the surface 21 of a target body structure 25 of genorally the same triangular formation as the body H and cap Hi. It is to be understood that the use of the target structure 25 in conjunction with the target structure lfl, containing the turnstile, is primarily for the purpose of appearance and it will be apparent that any suitable means may be employed to provide a relatively straight guide surface disposed in substantially parallel spaced apart relation to the guide wall 2! to form a relatively narrow passageway through which a ball may travel. The target device 25 is rigidly secured in position on the table top it by a pair of screws 26 extending through the table top |5 and engaging in bosses 21 formed in the interior of the body of the target device as seen in Figure 2 of the drawings.

The target device I 0, which as above mentioned is of generally triangular outline, has its two adjoining walls, other than the wall 2 surrounded by an annulus or band 28 of resilient material, preferably of rubber. Since it is important that the guide wall 2! be free and unobstructed so as not to retard the speed of the ball rolling through the passageway 23, said band of material at the ends of said walls, adjacent the ends of the wall 2|, is seated in notches ||a formed in the upper edge of the body so as to permit disposition of the intermediate portion of the band 28 within said body l as seen in the drawings. The purpose of the resilient band 23 surrounding the two adjacent outer Walls of the target ill, is to provide a suitable resilient contact surface adapted to be engaged by a ball traveling over the table top is for causing rebound of the ball over the top IS. The annular band 23, in addition to economy, and due to the notches ia, facilitates the mounting and assembly of the band on the body of the target device. To insure proper anchorage of the band 28 in position on the outer walls of the body, said outer walls are preferably formed with a recess as indicated at l lb to form a seat for the band, which is of circular cross section. Inasmuch as the target device 25 is of generally similar construc tion to the target device l0, a resilient band 28 is employed in a similar fashion.

As may be seen in Figure 2 of the drawings, the arms iii of the turnstile are adapted to be projected into the passageway 23 in position to be encountered and moved by a ball traveling through said passageway, over the table top. The shape of the arms of the turnstile is considered important, and as herein shown, the edges defining the arms are so shaped that the outer end of the arm when encountered by a ball remains in contact with the ball during the entire period of engagement and movement thereof by said ball as it passes through said passageway Such shape oi the arms insures that the force of the ball is applied to the outermost end portion of the arm so as to obtain the maximum leverage action of the ball against said It will also be noted that the arms of said tuiz ti e are so dimensioned that when encountered by a hall passing through the passageposition by sleeves 3| and 32 surrounding the shaft with the sleeve 32 seated in a switch device indicated generally at 35, fixedly connected to the underside of the table top It and to the target device IS.

The switch device includes a fixed panel 31 of insulating material secured by screws 38 to the table top l8 and to the body II of the target de vice l0 by threading in bosses, not shown, but which may be understood to be similar to bosses If? of the target device 25. Mounted on the underside of the stationary member 31 are two spaced apart concentric conductor rings 43 and 4!, and surrounding said outermost ring 4| are two concentric, circumferentially spaced apart series of electrical contacts 42 and 43 respectively. Fixedly secured on the lower end of the shaft 3 is a rotatable member 45, secured by a collar 48 on the lower end of said shaft. Projecting upwardly from said rotatable member 45 are two sets of spring pressed contact fingers 48, '59 and 59, 5!, respectively. As may be seen in Figure 2 of the drawings, contact finger 48 is disposed in position for engaging the outer series of fixed contacts 43 on the stationary member 31. The spring contact 49 is in engagement with the conductor ring 4|, and spring contact 5!] is in engagement with the conductor ring 40, while the spring contact 5| is in position to engage the contacts of the inner series of contacts 42. The respective contacts 48 and 49 are connected at their free ends by a conductor wire 53, while the contacts 50 and 5| are connected together by a conductor wire 54 so as to complete portions of electrical circuits from the respective conductor rings to a respective contact that may be in registration with the respective spring contact fingers 28 and 5|. The position of the two sepa rate sets of spring contacts and conductor rings is such as to permit energizing different sets of electrical circuits employing different voltages or amperages, which may be desirable for operating different types of electrical apparatus.

It will now be apparent that in view of the form of turnstile herein shown having four equally spaced apart arms I9, that each time the turnstile is operated by a ball traveling through the passageway 23, the respective sets of spring contacts are likewise moved a quarter revolution with respect to the stationary or fixed panel 37. It may be understood that after completion of each quarter revolution of the turnstile, the arrangement may be such that the spring contacts may complete portions of different electrical circuits and which circuit portions will remain intact unless interrupted by some timing apparatus or other control apparatus, until the turnstile is again actuated by a ball. It will be noted from Figure 4 of the drawings that we provide in ermediate contacts. which may for convenience be designated 42a and .3a, adapted to be temporarily engaged by the respective spring pressed contacts 48 and 5|, said spring contacts are moved from one arrested position to the next arrested position, corresponding to the positions of the turnstile after actuation by a ball. These intermediate contacts may be a part of auxiliary electrical circuits which are adapted to be temporarily completed during the transitory movement of the yielding contact fingers in their movement from one arrested position to the next arrested position.

Referring now to Figure 5 of the drawings, we have shown an illustrative wiring diagram in connection with the switch device 35 wherein the series of intermediate contacts 42a and more particularly the contacts upon which the yielding contact finger 5| becomes arrested after movement of the turnstile, are shown connected by conductor wires 50, BI, 62 and 63 to electric lamps designated as 64, 65, 65 and 61. As illustrated, said lamps may be housed within conventional bumper devices, such as indicated generally at A, in Figure l of the drawings. The other terminal of each of the other respective lamps is connected to a main conductor wire 68, which in turn is connected to one terminal of a source of energy indicated at 63. The other terminal of said source of energy is connected by a conductor wire is to the innermost conductor ring til. It wiil now be apparent that as the turnstile rotates a quarter revolution during each actuation by a ball, the respective contacts 42a to which the conductor wires 6i), (ii, 62 and 63 are connected, are temporarily made and thereby temporarily energize a corresponding light of the lights indicated at 6d, 65, 66 and El. If desired, the conductor wires 6B, 6!, 62 and 83 may be connected to the other contacts 42 of said inner series so that one of said lights 64, 65, and $31, will always remain energized when the turnstile is arrested, and the intermediate contacts 4261 may be connected in auxiliary electrical circuits for temporary completion during the transitory movement of the turnstile from one arrested position of adjustment to the other arrested position of adjustment.

A switch indicated at H is provided in conductor wire 68 and which may be understood to correspond to a suitable switch operated by coin operated mechanism of the game apparatus. As well known, there is usually associated with 2 ch type of switches, suitable timing mechanism for effecting opening of the main electrical circui after a predetermined interval of 7e have also shown in this wiring diagram a circuit for the light It which is disposed within the target in and said light 54 is con nected by a conductor wire it to the conductor s wire is and by conductor wire it to the conductor wire 63 beyond the switch I2, so as to remain energized while switch '62 is closed.

t will be apparent that our novel combination target and switch device readily lends itself for use in a relatively wide variety of electrical cir- I cuits for controlling various types of devices and apparatus used in connection with ball rolling game apparatus. Such a device has a special advantage that it permits adaption to electrical circuits as now employed and permits dispensing with complicated and relatively expen- ..cctromagnetic operated devices and mechanisms which serve to control other circuits and apparatus.

Although we have herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of our invention, manifestly it capable of modification and rearrangement without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. We do not, therefore, wish to be un' ."tood as limiting this invention to the precise embodiment herein disclosed, except as we may be so limited by the appended claims.

We claim as our invention:

1. A target for use with a ball rolling game having a table top tilted slig tly to horizontal and over which balls are rollable, said target comprising a member adapted to be mounted on the table top and providing a ball guiding surface, a turnstile adapted to be mounted on said table top adjacent said guide surface for rotation in a plane in substantially parallel spaced apart relation to the surface of said table top. said turnstile including a plurality of laterally extending arms, disposed in correlation to said guide surface to present said arms sequentially inv overlapping relation to said guide surface in position to be engaged by a ball rolling over said table top, for rotating said turnstile, and means actuated in response to such rotative movement of the turnstile, for operating other apparatus associated with the ball rolling game.

2; A target for use with a ball rolling game having a table tilted slightly to horizontal and over which balls are reliable, said target comprising means adapted to be mounted on the table top and providing a pair of cooperating spaced apart guide surfaces to form a relatively narrow for a ball rolling over said table top, a turnstile adapted to be mounted on said table top for rotating about an upright in a plane spaced above the surface of said table top, said turnstile having a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart laterally extending arms, said turnstile being so correlated to one of said guide surfaces that one of said arms normally extends into said passageway in position to be engaged and rotated by a ball traveling through passageway, and means connected to and actuated by such rotative movement of the turnstile, for operating other apparatus associated with the ball rolling game.

3. A target for use with a ball rolling game having a table tilted slightly to horizontal and over which balls are rollable, said target comprising means adapted to be mounted on the table top and providing a pair of cooperating spaced apart guide surfaces to form a relatively narrow passageway for a ball rolling over said table top, a turnstile adapted to be mounted on said table top for rotating about an upright axis, in a plane spaced above the surface of said table top, said turnstile having a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart laterally extending arms, said turnstile being so correlated to one of saic guide surfaces that one of said arms normally extends into said passageway in position to be engaged and rotated by a ball traveling through said passageway, the ball engaging surface of each of the turnstile being so formed that the ball engages the outer end of the arm during the entire time said ball remains in cont ct with said arm, and means connected to and actuated by such rotative movement of the turnstile, for operating other apparatus associated wi h the ball rolling game.

4. A target for use with a ball rolling game having a table top tilted slightly to horizontal and over which balls are rollable, said target comprising means adapted to be mounted on the table top and providing a pair of cooperating spaced apart guide surfaces to form a relatively narrow passageway for a ball rolling over said table top, a turnstile adapted to be mounted on said table top for rotating about an upright axis, in a plane spaced. above the surface of said table top, said turnstile having a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart laterally extending arms, said turnstile being so correlated to one of said guide surfaces that one of said arms normally extends into said passageway in position to be engaged and rotated by a ball traveling through passageway, a shaft fixedly connected to said turnstile and extending below the table top, and a switch device, disposed below the table top and operably connected to the shaft for controlling the make and breal; of one or more electrical circuits incident to rotation of said turnstile.

5. A target for use with a ball rolling game having a table top tilted slightly to horizontal and over which balls are reliable, said target comprising means adapted to be mounted on the table top and provid 1g a pair of cooperating spaced apart guide surfaces to form a relatively narrow passageway for ball rolling over said table top, a turnstile adapted to be mounted on said table top for rotating about an upright axis, in a plane spaced above the surface of said table top, said turnstile havi a plurality of circumferentially spaced laterally extending arms, said turnstile being so correlated to one of said guide surface that one c said arms normally in position to be i. traveling through clly connected to said turnstile and extend; g below the table top, and a switch device mounted below the table top for controlling the rnalze and break of a plurality of separate elec ical circuits, incident to rotation of the turnstile, said svitch device including a fixed member, a re a ried on said shaft and rota; stile as a unit, a l 7 contact fingers carried by the re and movable therewh, and i said fixed member, en a cable by said resilient contact fingers.

6. A bumper for having a table top tilted .vtly to horizontal and over which balls rel le, said bumper device being for mounting on said table top and including a iollow body having an upright, relatively stra e silient electrical tatable member ble with said turnirle mall uide means adapted to be mow t in cooperating spa-c a rela e s table top disposed art relation to said guide cw p s ageway for a urnstile supctation about stile iv/111g aplurality of t arms adapted to "ure in the guide sageway in positraveling thereand a switch be pro] ...e i wall of the b tion to be e through for rota device ado:

"nstil for cona ball rolling game htly to horizontal ole, said bumper rooting on said table cdy having an upwell, guide means t ole top disposed on to said guide row passageway for a turnstile supand over device b ng adapt-e top and including a h ri ht. relatively str.,'- adapted to be mounted over e ported within said body for rotation about an having a plurality of or arms adapted to be projected through an aper ure in the guide wall of the body into said passageway in position to be engaged by a ball travelling therethrough for rotating said turnst le, a shaft fixedly connected to said turnstile and extending below the table top, and a switch device adapted to be mounted below the table top for controlling the make and break of a plurality of separate electrical circuits, incident to rotation of the turnstile, said switch device including a fixed member, a rotatable member carried on said shaft and rotatable with said turnstile as a unit, a plurality of resilient electrical contact fingers carried by the rotatable member and movable therewith, and fixed contacts on said fixed member, engageable by said resilient contact fingers.

8. A bumper for se with a ball rolling game having a table top tilted slightly to horizontal and over which balls are rollable, said bumper device being adapted for mountin on said table top and including a hollow body having an upright, relatively straight guide wall, the remaining wall portion of said body being provided with resilient bumper band to be engaged by a ballv guide means on said table top disposed in coo i -g spaced apart relation to said guide wall to form a relatively narrow passageway for a ball rolling over said table top, a turnstile supported said body for rotation about an upright said turn tile having a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart arms adapted to be projected through an aperture in the guide wall of the body into said passageway in position to be engaged by a ball traveling therethrough for rotating said turnstile, and a switch device adapted to be mounted below the table top and operably connected to said turnstilc for controlling the make and break of one or more electrical circuits incident to rotation of the turnstile.

9. A bumper for use with a ball rolling game having a top tilted slightly to horizontal and over which ails are rollable, said bumper device bei g adapted for mounting on said table top and including a hollow body having an upright, relatively straight guide wall, said body including a removable top, end the upper portion of the body proper, adjacent the ends of the guide wall, being notched to receive a. portion of an annulus of resilient material extending inside the body, and the remaining portion of said annulus be c. trained around the remaining wall ortion of the bod: in position to be encountered by a ball, guide means adapted to be mounted on said table top disposed in cooperating spaced apart relation to said guide wall to form a relatively narrow passageway for a ball rolling over said table top, a turnstile supported within said body for rotation about an upright ax s, said turnstile having a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart arms adapted to be projected through an aperture in the guide wall of the body into said passageway in position to be engaged by a ball traveling therethrough for rotating said turnstile, and a switch device adapted to be mounted below the table top and onerably connected to said turnstile for controlling the make and break of one or more electrical circuits incident to rotation of the turnstile.

FRED W. MOIKEY. RAYMOND 1V, FELDOTT. 

